Improvement in grain-separators



2 Sheets-Sheet l,

N. KIBLER. Grain-Separators.

' No. 210,333. Patented Nov. 26, 1878.

olo J; A M u asheens-sneem. N. KIBLER. Grain-Separators.

No. 210,333. Patented Nov. 26,1878.

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N.FETERS. PFOTO-LIYNOGRAPHER, WASMlNGTON, D C.

UNITED S ATES PATENT OEEIoE NATHAN KIBLER, OF PITTSFIELD, ILLINOIS;

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAIN-SEPARATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 210,333, dated November26, 1878; application filed September 25, 1878.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, NATHAN KIBLER, of Pittsfield, in the county of Pikeand State of Illinois, have invented a new and valuable Improvement inGrain-Separators; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of thesame, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of thisspecification, and to the letters and figures of reference markedthereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a representation of a perspective view of myimproved machine. Fig. 2 is a central sectional view, showing theinterior of the machine. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the feed-boardwith flexible slats. Fig. 4. is a perspective view of the feedingdevice. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the device for separating oats.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for cleaning grain,860.; and it consists, first, in a feeding device located at the throatof the hopper, in combination with a board having flexible fingers orslats; second,

in mechanism for giving a quick vibratory motion to the feeder, and atthe same time giving a longitudinal motion to the shoe; third, in thecombination of a slide-board in the hopper and a slatted apron, withprojections at its forward end; fourth, in a fan-wheel having wings orV-shaped blades, so that the wheel can be operated in either direction;

fifth, in the combination of three air channels or passages with an overand under blast; and, finally, in the combination and arrangement ofparts, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. I

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, thecorresponding parts are designated by the same letters.

In the drawings, the letter A represents the frame-work supporting thevarious parts of the machine. To the upper end of the vertical posts I)is pivoted the forward end of the hopper B. Between the side bars of theframe is secured by suitable means a fan-casing, 0, having three airpassages or channels, substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of thedrawings. The letter D indicates the upper passagefor currents of air, Ethe lower passage, and F the intermediate passage, all extending fromthe fan-case, and provided with valves b for regulating the currents ofair.

G represents the shoe, in which the sieves are arranged for sorting thegrain into qualities, suspended by the pivoted rods 0, and supportedupon the rocking bar at. This shoe, with sieves, receives a longitudinalshaking motion by means of a connecting-rod, 0, attached to the mainshaft I, and is also provided with a spout, f, for receiving anddischarging the grain that has been subjected to a blast and passedthrough the sieves. It will be noticed that this shoe has an opening,71," at its inner end, below the sieves, which passes over a shortextension, H, of the intermediate air-passage, F, as shown in Fig. 2.The upper screen or sieve of the shoe carries off the white caps,sticks, and other extraneous matter; and the lower screen or sieve isfor grading or removing the cockle from the grain, and is provided witha fall-board, z, attached to the under side of the sieve-frame, and isdesigned for discharging the small wheat into the spout f, located inthe shoe, and from thence to a receptacle to receive it. The upperair-passage, D, is provided with a slide, 1, serving the double purposeof a feed-board and top, and operates in the grooves l of the sideboardsJ, attached to the frame-work. The inner or forward end of this slide Iis provided with a series of slats, m, suitably 0011-.

nected, and having at their outer ends the upward projections or blocksa, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The object of the flexible slatsis to permit sticks, pieces of corn-cobs, and other foreign material topass under without doing any damage, and the blocks thereof are forkeeping the grain from running over upon the board. The under side ofthis slide 1 is provided with a curved shield, 12, acting as adeflector. This air-passage D is also provided with amovable slidingboard, K, working in the inclined grooves r, forming a bottom to thepassage. The forward end of this slide has a downwardly-projectingshield, s, acting as a conductor for guiding the grain to the sieves inthe shoe.

The upper shield, 11, deflects the grain and heavy matter that areforced outward from the incoming grain by the blast upon the inclinesliding board and sieves.

To the upper end of the frame, immediately below the hopper, is suitablyjournaled a device consisting of a bar, L, and a raised wire, t,operated by suitable mechanism. This device, arranged below the throatof the hopper, substantially as shown, I denominate a feeder, as itperforms a double office, to wit, feeds the grain from the hopper to thescreens below and agitates the falling grain. The bar L is elliptical,or nearly so, in cross-section, so that in its vibratory motion thelongest diameter will be horizontal, which will make an opening of aboutthree-eighths of an inch in its downward movement, and in its upwardmovement closing the feed-passage, thereby producing an intermittentfeed.

The wire t is attached to the upper surface of the elliptical bar L andparallel therewith. This wire, with the bar L, has a quick vibratorymotion through the falling grain, and keeps the same continuously inmotion to prevent the accumulation of trash, &c., above the bar. Thisfeeder is operated by means of one of the separator-supports c andcrank-wheel a. The feed to the sieves is increased or decreased byadjusting the slide-board I outwardly or inwardly.

The letter N indicates a fan-wheel, having the outer ends of the arms Pmade V-shaped to receive the double-faced wings or blades R,substantially as shown.

The double wings or blades thus made and applied to the arms of thewheel will force the wind in both directions, to wit, above and below,and also give greater wind-power, in view of the fact that as the airrushes into the fan-case to fill the vacuum formed behind the wings theair will strike the slanted or inclined blades and glance off with greatforce to the circumference of the casing, where it is wanted, to bedischarged through the airpassages.

\Vhen it is required to clean oats the device shown in Fig. 5 is used,and in this case the shoe-frame S is supported with strap-iron arms, sofastened that it cannot move lengthwise.

Vithin the shoe-frame the bars 10 are arranged in an angular position bymeans of bolts or screws, so that when one bar is pushing the other ispulling the separator T from side to side, thereby producing a softgentle motion in a lateral direction.

The upper and lower air-channels are used in cleaning grain or seed thathas been cleaned with a separator. The upper and middle airchannels, thelatter forming a communication with the rear end of the shoe under thelower sieve, with the over-blast, are used for removing chaff and otherlight matter from the grain.

The air cut-off or valve 1) in the middle airchannel is arranged so thatit forms the under side of the said air-channel when open, and is soarranged that by turning the valve the air will be thrown upward againstthe sieves with great force.

The grain or seed is fed from the hopper by means of the vibratoryfeeder upon the sieves, where it is subjected to a blast of air toremove extraneous matter, the small grain passing downward through thesieves and conducted into the spout in the shoe. The larger grain, &c.,passes over the tail ends of the sieves, falling upon the curvilineartop V, which is a continuation of the lower air-channel, thence throughan opening, 10 which also receives the grain, &c., from the inclineboard a of the shoe, into the channel, where it is subjected to currentsof air, thoroughly cleansing the grain before reaching thedelivery-spout as, ready for market.

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The combination of a hopper, a feeding device, and a movable boardhaving flexible slats, all operated in the manner as described.

2. In a fanning-mill, the side rods or bars 0, for suspending the shoeand operating the agitating or feeding device, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

3. The combination and arrangement, with a fan and a set ofseparating-sieves, of three air channels or passages, provided withsuitable valves for regulating the currents of air, the upperair-passage being arranged immediately under the hopper, forming acommunication with the incoming grain from the said hopper, theintermediate air-passage forming a communication with the sieves in theshoe, and the lower air-passage arranged under the sieves, substantiallyas shown, and for the purpose set forth.

4. The movable boards I and K, forming the top and bottom of the upperair-channel, and provided with the shields p s, respective] y, for thepurpose set forth.

5. In combination with the feeding device, the adjustable board I,having at its inner end a series of flexible slats, m, and projectionsa, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. A fan-wheel for a fanning-mill having double blades, meeting at anangle, to render it reversible, substantially as shown and described.

7. The combination, with the shoe-frame S of a fanning-mill, of'theseparatorsieve T and side bars 10, so connected that the sieve can havea gentle lateral motion.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

NATHAN K [B LER.

\Vitnesses:

W. H. JOHNSTON, H. M. Cnirwoon.

